When a woman reaches the age of 30, researchers suggests that she should maintain a good exercise habit to prevent the occurrence of heart disease. In a recent study from Australian researchers, they figure out that physical inactivity is the key predictor of heart illness in women. Physical inactivity has greater impact on women’s health aside from high blood pressure, obesity and smoking.

The researchers from the University of Queensland conducted a long-term study on the lifespan of more than 32,000 Australian women. They reported that lack of exercise is the possible leading cause of heart diseases for women ages 30 to late 80. The lead author, Wendy Brown, director of the Center for Research on Exercise, Physical Activity and Health of the university, said that women between these ages should work hard to be physically active.

They observed that when a woman reaches the age of 30, the physical activity declines. They encourage women to be physically active so they can have a healthier heart. Even though, this study was conducted in Australia, the American College of Cardiology Sports and Exercise Cardiology Council, pointed out that American women should also take this research seriously because physical inactivity could lead to heart disease.

Cardiologists also stressed out that developed countries have almost similar lifestyle and habits so it could be that their health issues have a general theme. The study offers awareness for both developed and developing countries because their finding of physical inactivity applies to all populations.

How the Researchers Performed the Study?

The researchers measured the top risk factors that contribute to the onset of heart disease in Australian women. The top four causes include physical inactivity, high blood pressure, excess weight and smoking. According to the researchers, the risk factors also account for the occurrence of heart diseases across the globe.

The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s health had drawn their data from 32,000 participants. The cohort study started since 1996, the researchers keep track of the long-term health statuses of women born on three generational periods such as 1921 to 1926, 1946 to 1951 and 1973 to 1978. The researchers analyzed how the Australian women health will improved if one risk factor is removed. Say for example, one who never smokes or most of the participants have ideal body weight to determine the highest risk factor that contributes to heart disease.

The Findings

The result showed that most number of younger women is smokers. Smoking increases the heart risk by up to 59%. Thus, researchers believed that smoking is one of the most important contributors to the onset of heart disease among youngest adult women.

The smoking rates also showed that for women ages 22 to 27, smoking as probable contributor of heart disease declined by 28% and 5% for women ages 73 to 78 years. However, high risk factors such as high blood pressure and physical inactivity had increased steadily from ages 22 to 90.

The research was published on the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Therefore, the researchers concluded that women from ages 30 to 80 with physical inactivity are more prone to heart disease than any of the risk factors mentioned. Physical inactivity can increase the heart diseases by 33% for middle-aged women and 24% for older women.

How Long a Woman Should Exercise?

According to the researchers, a woman between the ages of 30 to 90 should have at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity every week. If they can manage, approximately around 2,000 middle-aged and older women will be saved from heart disease in Australia alone. How much more if other countries will also be conscious of their physical activities?

The recommended exercise quota per week is the same for Australia and United States, as the researchers pointed out. Lead author, Wendy Brown also stressed out that it doesn’t really matter what type of exercise a woman does, what is important is that she maintains to be physically active. But she also pointed out that aerobic exercise is very helpful for metabolic and cardiovascular health.

Strength training is also essential for musculoskeletal health that helps maintain the ability of women to perform various activities even at old age. Aerobics and strength training are good exercise activities that can help women become healthier and prevent the onset of heart disease. Cardiologists also pointed out that physical activity has a key role in maintaining a good and healthy heart because it also affects other risk factors. Moreover, the study emphasized that smoking and other unhealthy behaviors should be stopped early on.

Regular exercise can help reduce body fat, lower blood pressure and improve the level of blood sugar. Woman should exercise to prevent the onset of heart disease in the future. Exercise should be a part of a woman’s habit to protect her from heart disease and for a healthier body.